counterattacks

noun

variants or counter-attacks
plural of counterattack
as in attacks
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterattacks Oil prices jumped Monday morning as the latest cycle of attacks and counterattacks renewed fears of further disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Morocco had more talent than Paraguay, more menacing technique and tactics, and, presumably, could mount more dangerous counterattacks. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 Under coach Sergej Barbarez, a former professional poker player, the gritty Bosnians rarely gamble, instead playing a disciplined and physical style that emphasizes compactness and swift counterattacks. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Switzerland more than doubled Bosnia and Herzegovina’s possession in the first half, but did little with it as their fellow UEFA opponent defended with numbers in hopes of pouncing on counterattacks. — Josh Gross, Oc Register, 18 June 2026 Sun Yingsha’s speed, anticipation, backhand counterattacks, and composure under pressure have made her one of the greatest table-tennis athletes of all time. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 June 2026 This will be key, as one of Giraldez’s main tactics to cause Barcelona problems will be counterattacks. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 21 May 2026 Suwon responded with counterattacks as the North Koreans struggled to clear crosses into the box, with a header from home forward Haruhi Suzuki bouncing off a post in the 21st. — ABC News, 20 May 2026 Bassong continued in the midfield through 2025, bringing that same intense defensive presence while jump-starting counterattacks. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattacks
  1. attacks
  2. counteroffensives
  3. assaults
  4. counterstrikes
Noun
  • Harbaugh had tense standoffs with legacy defenders Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and, during the 2012 season, held a sitdown with his players to address their vicious and personal attacks on his approach.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Israeli intelligence believes Iran moved part of its enriched uranium stockpile to Pickaxe Mountain after last June’s attacks, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of attacks
Noun
  • Ukraine’s relative successes on parts of the front line this year, such as successful localized counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, can be credited in part to Syrsky’s focus on cultivating manpower and forming assault groups.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026
  • Russia still controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv has recently clawed back limited ground in counteroffensives.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of counteroffensives
Noun
  • Such tactics also showcase the Ukrainian military’s ongoing experimentation with using drones and robots to offset a Russian military advantage in manpower while also sparing Ukrainian soldiers from making dangerous assaults.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026
  • Syrskyi’s way of war – large frontal assaults that were costly, if not the only real way to reclaim land – had begun to look dated.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of assaults
Noun
  • Dozens of Iranians have died since the last bout of strikes and counterstrikes began, and thousands since February.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The collapse of the ceasefire and interim agreement has led to days of strikes and counterstrikes across the region, with traffic in the crucial waterway once again largely halted as the two sides battle over it.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 17 July 2026
Definition of counterstrikes

Browse Nearby Words

counterattackers
counterattacks
counterbalance
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Cite this Entry

“Counterattacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattacks. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of counterattacks for Spanish Speakers

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